Weirdstone of Brisingamen (Armada Lions S.)

Long before J.K. Rowling imagined a schoolboy wizard, Alan Garner delivered a classic novel that still stands head and shoulders above the recent spate of juvenile fantasies.

When siblings Colin and Susan are pursued by eerie creatures across Alderley Edge, they are saved by the Wizard. He takes them into the caves of Fundindelve, deep below the Edge, where he watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights. But the heart of the magic that binds them — Firefrost, the titular Weirdstone of Brisingamen, has been lost. Colin and Susan discover they are the key to the Weirdstone’s

return. But how can two children defeat the Morrigan and her deadly brood?

Alan Garner’s first novel still retains its magic, fifty years after its publication. It scores over most fantasies by setting the adventure in a very real environment, and adapting real folklore and myth to enrich the fantastical narrative. Those familiar with Alderley Edge will no doubt realise the potency of the landscape and the magic that surrounds it. Weirdstone captures this magical fusion and weaves it seamlessly throughout the story. Beautifully paced, innocently told and yet with shadowy recesses, this is a true classic.

Most welcome, then, is The Weirdstone of Brisingamen reissue in a special Fiftieth Anniversary hardback. Attractively bound, it has a new introduction by Garner giving background to the history and inspirations behind the novel. Although some may argue that the story is a little dated for today’s readers, this does nothing to diminish the storytelling and magic.

Arguably the best children’s fantasy ever written, and with the wealth of folklore within, it is required reading for adult fantasy readers too.